Proof Pearl: Regular Expression Equivalence and Relation Algebra

摘要

We describe and verify an elegant equivalence checker for regular ex-pressions. It works by constructing a bisimulation relation between (derivatives of) regular expressions. By mapping regular expressions to binary relations, an automatic and complete proof method for (in)equalities of binary relations over union, composition and (reflexive) transitive closure is obtained. The verification is carried out in the theorem prover Isabelle/HOL, yielding a practically useful decision procedure.